Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Electronic Waste and Its Impact on Human Health and Environment

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest-growing class of waste because of the remarkable demand for various electronic gadgets such as mobiles and laptops. Moreover, its improper disposal is life-threatening because it includes hundreds of different substances, many of which are toxic elements and pollutants that can leach to soil and surface and groundwater or be emitted into the air, causing a major negative impact on the environment and public health. As a result, studies on the sustainable management of e-waste have gained increasing attention from researchers globally in the last decade to explore practical strategies to reduce or utilize this special waste. This review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the major aspects of e-waste, including its definition, composition, and the impact of its end-of-life disposal on human health and the environment, while also focusing on some practical sustainable solutions and strategies toward effective e-waste management. It will also discuss the production of electronics; global demand and the mining boom; and the pollution caused by mining. It will also highlight the importance of effective governmental regulations, with which electronics producers, e-waste generators, and recycling facilities should comply. The research perspectives and orientations highlighted within this review can help in providing guidelines for future research studies and in exploring opportunities for more effective management of e-waste toward a circular economy and sustainable development.

Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications

“…Inadequate disposal and repurposing of DEEE can engender the liberation of various injurious substances, thereby exerting deleterious effects on atmospheric, aquatic and terrestrial domains, as well as human well-being [117,118]. Electronic waste harbours dangerous substances and deleterious additives, which, if dispersed via unsuitable handling and disposal methodologies, can present a substantial peril to the quality of the atmosphere [119]. Furthermore, the reclamation activities related to e-waste encompass conveyance, disassembly of materials, incineration, and, notably, the metallurgical extraction of constituents such as Au and Cu from DEEE.…”

“…Furthermore, e-waste is predominantly discarded and exported from developed nations to developing nations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, etc. Reports have demonstrated that roughly 12.5% of such waste undergoes rudimentary recycling methods, leading to the release of toxic substances into the ecosystem [119]. Beyond persistent organic pollutants, a multitude of heavy metals pervade the groundwater and rivers of developing countries and render their water unsuitable for consumption and culinary use [124].…”

On the Conversion of Paper Waste and Rejects into High-Value Materials and Energy

“…Overall, and as summarized in Figure 3, there are different possible routes for the utilization of paper waste to return its value to the economy and reduce its environmental impact. It is important to mention that some of these routes are also used for the utilization of other kinds of waste, such as electronic waste [189,190]. The greenness and efficiency of the conversion of paper waste into energy are significantly dependent on the form of energy (biofuel, biogas, hydrochar, or heat), the conversion method (SSF, carbonization, anaerobic digestion, or incineration), and the used processing conditions (temperature and others).…”

Solid waste management practices and challenges in Besisahar municipality, Nepal

“…In developing countries, most waste is composed of organic materials, which are generally three times higher than in industrialized countries [2]. The improper disposal of electronic waste, polythene materials, and medical waste in the locality also contributes to pollution and public health hazards [3][4][5]. Waste management (WM) involves several interdependent activities such as collection, source separation, storage, recycling and reuse, biological treatment, transportation etc.…”